Flexible supporting device



D. S. S. STEUART FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING DEVICE Original Filed Nov. 17 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l Lve nl vr Jaw/1&5 fz uczrfgkens ffeaqzrf July 3, 1928,

D. S. S. STEUART FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING DEVICE Original Filed Nov. 17, 1927 a Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3, 1928. 1,675,672

- 0. s. s. STEUART FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING DEVI CE Original i e O 17, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ji -M Patented July 3, 1928. I f

DOUGLAS STUART SPENS STEUART, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

, FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Original application filed November 17, 1927, Serial No. 233,973. and in Great Britain June Divided and this application filed December 27, 1927.

The present invention relates to an im proved supporting device.

In my prior Patent No. 1654,1953, granted December 27, 1927, I have described an ar rangement by *hich a flexible tube extending from a transmitter can be adjusted to stay in any position to which it is put, such tube carrying at its outer end a mouthpiece and enabling conversation to take place without bringing the telephone right up to the mouth of the user. i

The present invention mainly contemplates improvements in supporting devices of the character therein disclosed, which supporting devices are primarily designed for use in connection with a speaking tube or the like, but are capable of much broader application, b

The invention consists of a flexible wire arrangement by means of which the flexible speaking tube or any other device can be supported in any desired position. This arrangement consists of stranded aluminium wire surrounded by a flexible tube and serves to supportthe speaking tube by si1n-' pl threading it through the tube. V 1

This feature of theinvention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings'which are identical with those in my application Serial No. 233,973, filed November 17, 1927, from which the present case has been divided out. In the drawings Fig. 1 shows the application of the invention to a pillar-type telephone or standard design; Fig. 2 is a side view of the clamp 10, and its support; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the tube and mouthpiece; Fig. ll-is an enlarged sectional view of poi tion of thetube; Fig. 5 shows an arrange ment for securing the tube to 'a transmitter when the usual mouthpiece is removed; Fig. .5 shows an alternative arrangement for securing the supporting wire to that illus ed in'Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a face view of the tter ll; while Fig. 8 is a face view of the earpiece or cup of the receiver 17 with an automatically operating shutter.

Referring to Fig. 1, normally the pillartype telephone 12 rests with its base upon a sloping stand. This stand is provided with a projection and with .an upwardly extending socket in which is fitted a bent rod 40.

The fit is a tight one so that therod 40 can only be removed and replaced byex'erting an appreciable force so that normally t will 14, 1926. Serial No. 242,941. Y

be held tightly. The rod 40 at its upper end carries a socket 4:1 in which a bent rod 4-2 (see Fig. 2) which screws into a. thread in the clamp is adapted to slide up and down, being secured in the desired position by means of a screw 13. The clamp 10 is for the purpose of securing the ferrule 13 in a suitable position to engage the transmitter mouthpiece The ferrule 13 is fitted on to the end of a flexible tube 14, the securing of the clamp to the ferrule being effected by means of the screw 15. The ferrule is fitted with a-spongy rubber collar 34 adapted to engage with the mouthpiece 35 of the transmitter 16 fitted to the end of the pillartype telephone, the arrangement being such that when the transmitter isplaced on the stand it tilts, due to the slope of the stand, in such a direction as to press against the spongy rubber collar 34. This spongy rubber collar is shapedto correspond with the shape of the inner flare of the transmitter mouthpiece 35, and consequently an automatic sealing between the ferrule and the mouthpiece ismade when the telephone is placed on the stand as shown, providing of course the position of the clamp 10 andt-he ferrule have been suitably adjusted previously. The usual receiver 17 is supported by means of a clamp 18 attached to a rod 19 screwed into a light aluminium body 20 shaped as shown, that is, of a suitable shape to engage with the switchhook 21. By this means it is possible to operate the switchhook and support the receiver in the switchhook by placing the body 20, instead of the receiver, in the switchhook. From the upper end of the body 20 extends a bent rod '22 carrying at its end a ferrule 23 and a flexible link 24, which link terminates in a sliding collar 25 embracing the ferrule 26 secured to the endof the flexible tube 14. The flexible tube 14 terminates in a casing .11; In this casing (see Fig. 7) is a shutter device consisting of levers 27 and 28 which,

when pressed together, cause the shutters 28" rangement is such that when the receiver is lifted and placed to the ear the collar 25 3 slides along the ferrule and engages at its recessed side a boss on the .mouthpiece. This arrangement ensures that the mouthpiece is held in a suitable position so as to be brought automatically in front of the mouth. This enables conversation to be carried on at some distance from the instrument and V consequently' the pillar-type instrument may rest a foot or two away from the speaker, leaving his desk clear for writing or reading. flheflexible link 24 may be of any knowntype which will remain in the position to which 'it isput, but preferably it is constructed of aluminium wires stranded to ggether and covered with a flexible tube to prevent bulging of the individual wires.

'Such an arrangement is practically free from "a tendencyto return to the position from which it is moved, while at the same time it tends to resist movement and so holds the mouthpiece in the position to which it is placed. The receiver 17 in the position shown might conceivably collect dust which in time might seriously impair its operation. .In order to avoid this defect accordlng to the invention an automatically operating shutter is provided in thereceiver cap 32.. Fig. 8- shows a view of the inside of the cap, from which can be seen'theloosely pivoted, shutter 33- supported on a'pivot at the right sideof the cap,that is, when one is looking at, the receiver with'the cap end'in front;

Consequently when the receiver is supported,

as shown inFig. 1, theshutter 33 falls under its own weight andrests on the stop 34* andcloses the opening 34 in. the cap (see the dotted-line position in Fig. 8), thus inaking the receiver'dust'proof. lVhen the receiver is lifted and held to the ear it will be noted that'the receiver is reversed and the shutter falls-to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8 so that'the topening 34 is '7 cleared and hearing is in no way affected.

:actlyas it is. readily understood that the arrangements disclosed in Fig. 1 could be'in'corporatedin Fig. 3; in fact Fig. 3 simply explains those I details of construction which are not sufli- [cient-ly shown in Fig. .1.

omitted-as is alsothe collar25. In certain cases it may lie-desirable not to have any connecting link between the receiver and the mouthpiece, and in such a case'the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 could be used ex- Un the other hand it will be A description will first be given of the.

element of the tube 14. This construction is important both as regards its dimensions hand as regardsits actual structure. As to diiniensionsfitlias been found that the best and most eflicient results can be obtained by arranging forthe tube to taper slightly so that its diameter at the transmitter end 71 shows in detail the construction of the tube let, the ferrule '13 and the mouth "piece 30. For convenience the shutter 11 is revasm .is somewhat less than its diameterat'the mouthpiece end. A design of tube which has been found to give most satisfactory results is one in which thediamet'er of the tube at the transmitter end is and at the mouthpiece end is 11 5', this taper.

being for a tube having alength of 13%.

For a differnt length of tube thetaper' would be proportionate to what it'is in the above mentioned case. Theinner diameter of the ferrulel3 is so arranged as to continue this taper which is however slightly accentuated right to the transmitter diaphragm. In the case shown the ferrule .13 is formed of a single casting, which s threaded at one end, and into which the tube 14 is fitted and finally cemented in position, while at the other end it is recessed and'fitted with the spongy rubber collar 34lshaped to engage in the inner flare ot' the transmitter mouthpiece 35.

As regards composition, the construction of the tube will be better followe'dby reference to Fig; 1; It consists of a closely wound spiral of steel wire 51 embeddedin a sheath 52 of pure rubber latex; Outside the sheath 52 isa braiding53 of silk or like-inaterial, which is'applied' at con siderable pressure. flexible and is very efficient for sound transmission, and while it constitutes a preferred construction, the invention is-not specifically min type have been tested and found to give good results and might be usedin place of steel where lightness is essential. It is not essential that the wires 51, however, should beso constructed that the successive turns of the spiral touch each other,

as good results can be obtained where the Such tubing is highly spirals are separated by some little'distance. The flexible tube issupported in the ferrule 26 in much the same, way as in the ferrule 13', that is,:it is'threaded in said r V ferrule 26 and then cemented -in position. On this ferrule is fitted the mouthpiece 30 which is made to have 'aqtightfit so that it can be placed on and removed 'without usmg a tool andyet 1S firmly held.

ficientresults. It is shown slightly curved, this be ng because it is more convenient that a should use slightly towards; the user,

i v V The shape 7 of the-mouthpiece is importantto give efbut there may befciroumstaiices in which it .would be advantageous" for "it to be straight. However, the importance of the 58, the tube 58 being provided with a shape is not so much in the fact that its axis is bent, as in the fact that the mouthpiece is not flared in the same way as the transmitter mouthpiece 35, that is, in the same way as the usual mouthpiece, but is made more cupshaped so that actually the flare first increases and then decreases, whereas in the ordinary mouthpiece it increases more and more. Actually, in fact, the extreme end of the mouthpiece is substantially parallel to the axis. In order to support the tube 14 a flexible wire arrangement 54 is provided, which is similar in construction to the flexible link 24. This flexible wire 54, as shown, also consists of a number of carefully. annealed aluminium wires 55 stranded together and tightly covered by a flexible tube 56 so as to prevent the stranded wires bulging when the flexible wire is bent. The flexible tube 56 is of well-known construction consisting of an interlocking helical winding; The are highly flexible and can be bent as desired and stay in the position in which they are put. cures them in position so that they cannot bulge and so enables a considerable weight to be supported at somedistance from the mouthpiece. This has the advantage that the mouthpiece may be supported independently of the flexible link 24, when once it is adjusted to a suitable position. In fact in certain cases the flexible link 24 could be entirely dispensed with, except that in such event it would be necessary for the sub scrib er to take one hand for adjusting the receiver to his ear and the other hand to adjust the mouthpiece. In any case the internal flexible wire 54 serves to reduce the strain on the user by taking the weight of the mouthpiece. To secure the flexible wire in position it is pinched into a tube 57, while being free .to slide in tube 56, which sliding is necessary to allow for free play when the tube is bent. Actually a pin 59 could be provided in addition to the pinching, or separately therefrom, but the pin 59 by itself, it should be mentioned, is somewhat unsatisfactory in view of the flexible wire 54 being stranded, and it is found that by pressing the thin tube 57 twice, as shown at 60, the flexible wire 54 can be satisfactorily secured in position. The tube 57 has soldered to it, or secured in any other way, a threaded ring 61 which threads into the ferrule 13 and so anchors the flexible wire 54 centrally within the tube 14. Furthermore, the tube 57 extends beyond ring 61 and is here tapered so as to give free passage to the sound waves, this tapering finishing in a fine point'just opposite the diaphragm 62 of the transmitter. The wire 54 is supported centrally of tube 14 at the mouthpiece end of the latter by the tube aluminium wires The flexible tube round them sethreaded ring 63 similar to ring 61, which threads into the ferrule H6. The tube 58 extends axially Wltli respect to the mouthpiece 30 and terminates in a cap which rap is fitted with a wick arrangement for carrying disinfectant and 1S placed in the perforated tube to automatically keep the mouthpiece free from germs. In the mouthpiece 30 a spiral. leaf spring 65 1s pro-- vid'ed which, it is found, in a very satisfactory manner prevents blasting or other loud noises from affecting the transmitter. and generally seems to considerably improve the speech transmitter. In order to assist in the support'of the mouthpiece 30, and'furthermore to guard against the tube 14 being unduly strained at the part where it engages the ferrule 13', a stiff spiral spring 66 is utilized which is provided with an upward bend, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

This spring 66 is anchored on a ring. 67 at one end of the ferrule 13. The arrangement as shown and described has proved from experimental tests to be highly efficient for sound transmission and enables the transmitter to receive sound, even when the mouth is two or three inches away from the mouthpiece, as loud as when the speaker has his mouth right up to the ordinary mouthpiece in accordance with the instruc tions he receives from the telephone operating authorities.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative arrangement where the ferrule 13 screws directly into the casing 16 of the transmitter, that is, where the ordinary mouthpiece is removed. In this case it is possible to connect a wire 68, which may be spiral or otherwise, from the tip ofthe tapered tube 57 to the nut 69 by which the transmitter capsule is connected to the diaphragm 62. This is of advantage because a certain amount of the sound transmitted down the mouthpiece is actually transmitted'along the flexible wire arrangement to the tube 57, and furthermore transmission of sound through metal is so much more eflicient than the transmission of sound through air that an appreciable magnification of the sound can be obtained.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative arrangement for anchoring the flexible wire 54. The stranded wires in this case are bent round so as to extend first in a radial direction through a slot in the ferrule 13 and then in a circumferential direction in a groove 70. The ferrule 13 is threaded in a similar manner to that shown in Fig.4, so as to engage with the transmitter casing 16, but the thread in this case is made somewhat longer so that a nut 71 can be screwed on to secure the stranded wires 55 in position. The ferrule can then be screwed into the casing 16. A recess 72 is bored in the end of the ferrule 13 so that a fine spiral spring 73 can be much as 11 or larger.

tube or the like, anon-resilient, stranded.

fitted therein. This spiral-spring 73 serves.

the same purpose as the spiral spring 65, but in this case it is provided near the transmitter instead of in the mouthpiece. If desired, of course, spiral springs can be provided at both ends. Itis found that the Width of the material forming the spi'ral spring, that is, the dimension parallel to the axis, should be appreciable, .say at least and even as That I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters, Patent is v i l. A speaking tube or the like, having a flexible, non-resilient internal supporting device which comprises a nontubular stranded cable of aluminium Wire and a flexible tube closely surrounding said cable, means for supporting the cable and tube at one end, and means at the other end of said cable and tube for securing thereto anobjectv to be supported. 7

.2. In a flexible support fora speaking stiflness of itself to maintain the tube and an article to be supported by said tube in any desired'position, saidcable being of non-' tubular formatiomand a, flexible tube closelyj surrounding said" cable throughout its length. i Y

4. In a flexible support for a speaking tube or the like, a non-resilient supporting cable of non-tubular formation made of fiexlble annealed aluminium Wires stranded together, and a flexible interlocking helical tube closely surrounding such cable.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 16th day. of December, 1927.

DOUGLAS'STUART syru s sTsUAaT. 

